Chapter 1049: with translation of chapter title

Lord Lu the Third is handy and quick-witted.

Lord Lu the Third is handy and quick-witted.

The smoking pot is made entirely of ox bone, inlaid with a metal pipe bowl and mouthpiece, polished smooth and glossy, only palm-length, small and convenient.

The smoking pot is made entirely of ox bone, inlaid with a metal pipe bowl and mouthpiece, polished smooth and glossy, only palm-length, small and convenient.

Chen Wuji picked it up, played with it briefly, and took a liking to it.

Translation: "Chen Wuji merely held it in his hand to admire for a moment before taking a liking to it." Use Chen Wuji.

Although this little gadget feels a bit old-fashioned, Chen Wuji genuinely likes it.

Translation: "Although this little gadget feels a bit old-fashioned to use, Chen Wuji genuinely likes it." Keep "though". Use "although". "genuinely likes it".

The time travel made him basically quit smoking; now he only misses that puff when he occasionally needs to use his brain intensely, and otherwise he never touches it.

Translation: "After crossing over, he basically quit smoking; now he only thinks of that puff of flavor when he occasionally needs to use his brain heavily, and normally he wouldn't touch it." Need to keep meaning. Use "crossing over" maybe "time travel". Keep as is.

As for whether he'll end up smoking again like in his past life, that's a story for another time.

Translation: "As for whether he'll pick up the habit of never parting with cigarettes from his previous life while smoking, that's a story for later." Keep.

"Marquis lets Chen Wushuang command troops alone, but does he also intend to test and train him?" Lord Lu the Third asked.

"Marquis lets Chen Wushuang command troops alone, but does he also intend to test and train him?" Lord Lu the Third asked.

Chen Wuji let out a long sigh, "When did I ever relax my training of him? I've always been training him to command troops alone, but this is quite difficult! Now that there's an opportunity, let him give it a try—let him get as much practice as he can. If he really can't do it, he'll just be my lifelong guard."

Translation: "Chen Wuji let out a long sigh, "When have I ever relaxed my efforts to cultivate him? I've always been training him in the skill of commanding troops alone, but this is quite difficult! Now, if there's an opportunity, let him give it a try—let him achieve whatever level he can; if he truly can't, he'll just be my lifelong guard."" Need to keep quotes. Use Chen Wuji.

Just mentioning this matter gives Chen Wuji a headache.

Translation: "Just mentioning this matter gives Chen Wuji a headache."

What's more outrageous is that these two fellows from the Jīnwèi yíng are pretty much of this type.

What's more outrageous is that these two fellows from the Jīnwèi yíng are pretty much of this type.

Chen Wushuang is truly straightforward-minded, while Chen Xingyuan is firm because he has no desires.

Chen Wushuang is truly straightforward-minded, while Chen Xingyuan is firm because he has no desires.

Even if he has millions of ideas bottled up inside, as long as he isn't pushed to a certain point, he absolutely won't make a decision—he'd rather stay dead than budge that mind or open his mouth.

Translation: "Even if he harbors millions of ideas in his heart, as long as he isn't pushed to a certain point, he absolutely won't make a decision—he'd rather die than move his brain or open his mouth." Need to keep meaning. Use "he". The subject is Chen Xingyuan? Actually line 11 introduced Chen Xingyuan, line 12 continues about him. So "He". Use "He".

No matter the matter, if someone else can take charge, he absolutely won't take any initiative.

Translation: "Whether big or small matters, if others can decide, he absolutely won't take any initiative." Use "He".

Even for his own affairs, he'd rather have everyone else arrange everything for him and not be bothered at all.

Translation: "Even concerning his own affairs, he hopes others will arrange everything for him, not wanting to be bothered at all." Use "He".

However, Chen Xingyuan has a strength: the tasks assigned to him are handled with a lively mind, and he's never made a mistake.

Translation: "However, Chen Xingyuan has a virtue: the tasks assigned to him are handled with a more active mind, and he has never made any mistakes." Use Chen Xingyuan.

He's like an NPC that needs a command to be triggered.

Translation: "He's like an NPC that needs a command to be triggered." Use "He".

"I understand the Marquis's worries, but these things can't be rushed—some people just develop wisdom later." Lord Lu the Third advised.

Translation: ""I understand the Marquis's worries, but these things can't be rushed; some people just develop wisdom later." Lord Lu the Third advised." Use Marquis.

"Chen Wushuang serving as a Personal Guard commander beside the Marquis would be more appropriate; rashly letting him command troops alone would be unsuitable."

"Chen Wushuang serving as a Personal Guard commander beside the Marquis would be more appropriate; rashly letting him command troops alone would be unsuitable."

"The Marquis treats his subordinates openly and kindly; he can't bear to see them without a future, but if something truly isn't suitable, putting him in a higher position isn't a good thing—it might even turn out bad."

Translation: ""The Marquis treats his subordinates openly and fairly, hating to see them without prospects, but if something truly isn't suitable, placing him in a higher position isn't good—it could even turn out bad."" Use Marquis.

Chen Wuji nodded, "I understand that too."

Translation: "Chen Wuji nodded, "I understand that reasoning as well."" Use Chen Wuji.

A scout came running from the rear.

Translation: "A scout came running from the rear." Use Scout.

"Reporting to my lord, the enemy troops have been startled and are fleeing far and wide; the two generals have split their forces into two routes and are pursuing, already having gone several li."

"Reporting to my lord, the enemy troops have been startled and are fleeing far and wide; the two generals have split their forces into two routes and are pursuing, already having gone several li."

Chen Wuji wiped his face and said speechlessly, "Lord Third, look—this kid, I think he's suited to be a guard."

Chen Wuji wiped his face and said speechlessly, "Lord Third, look—this kid, I think he's suited to be a guard."

"Actually, if the Marquis has time, he should talk with Wushuang and hear his thoughts."

"Actually, if the Marquis has time, he should talk with Wushuang and hear his thoughts."

"Yeah, let's go, Lord Third—we'll follow too!"

Translation: ""Right, let's go, Lord Third—we'll follow too!"" Use Lord Third.

……

Translation: "……" Keep ellipsis as is.

Song Bo, wearing only one shoe, ran wildly across the fields without purpose, madly cursing Chen Wuji's ancestors eighteen generations back.

Translation: "Song Bo wore only one shoe, running wildly across the mountains and fields without purpose, madly cursing Chen Wuji's ancestors eighteen generations back." Use Song Bo, Chen Wuji.

This is the most embarrassed moment of his life—right now, with no equal.

Translation: "This is the most embarrassing moment of his life—there's no equal." Use "He". The subject is Song Bo.

If he weren't feeling so stifled, he'd really want to run himself through with a sword to end it all.

If he weren't feeling so stifled, he'd really want to run himself through with a sword to finish it once and for all.

It's been a whole day!

Translation: "It's been a whole day!" Keep exclamation.

He kept fleeing back and forth, fleeing!

Translation: "He keeps fleeing, fleeing!" Use "He".

What damn pursuit—he's recklessly jumping into Chen Wuji's trap.

Translation: "What a damn pursuit—he's hurriedly jumping into Chen Wuji's trap." Use Chen Wuji.

They are the Uyghur's most brave and skilled border troops, a fully organized ten-thousand cavalry, but in Chen Wuji's hands they're like dogs tied with a rope—wherever he pulls, they have to run.

Translation: "They are the Uyghur border army's bravest and best fighters, a fully organized ten-thousand cavalry, but in Chen Wuji's hands they seem to have become dogs leashed by his rope—wherever Chen Wuji pulls, they must run." Use Uyghur, Chen Wuji.

"General, conserve your strength; we've abandoned our warhorses—if we just make it into the mountains, we'll be fine!" the deputy general said, comforting.

"General, conserve your strength; we've abandoned our warhorses—if we just make it into the mountains, we'll be fine!" the deputy general said, comforting.

Today's events have also left him near collapse.

Today's events have also left him near collapse.

But seeing his general's state, the deputy general still forced himself to perk up.

Translation: "But seeing his own general's state, the deputy general still forced himself to perk up." Use "the deputy general". Keep.

They are the backbone of the troops; if those two break mentally, the army's morale will collapse.

They are the backbone of the troops; if those two break mentally, the army's morale will collapse.

He still wants to survive and return to gain promotion and nobility, but he doesn't want to lose his life here due to internal and external troubles.

Translation: "He still wants to survive and return to gain promotion and nobility, but he doesn't want to lose his life here due to internal and external troubles." Use "He". Likely deputy general.

Song Bo planted his hands and feet on the hillside, turned his head, and saw the continuous firelight far down the mountainside.

Translation: "Song Bo planted his hands and feet on the hillside, turned his head, and saw the continuous firelight stretching down the distant mountainside." Use Song Bo.

"Hahaha, you wretch, if you've got the guts keep chasing, keep chasing! We laborers are heading into the mountains—cavalry can't enter the mountains, what can you do to me? What can you do to me? Hahaha!" Song Bo bellowed at the top of his lungs; his voice swirled in the wind several times before disappearing.

"Hahaha, you wretch, if you've got the guts keep chasing, keep chasing! We laborers are heading into the

Deputy General: ……

Translation: "Deputy general: ……" Keep colon and ellipsis.

He silently shook his head; these scions of military families really can't handle the situation.

Translation: "He silently shook his head; these sons of military families really can't handle the situation." Use "He". Likely deputy general.

……

Translation: "……"

At the mountainside.

Translation: "Below the mountainside." Keep.

Chen Wushuang and Chen Xingyuan met up.

Translation: "Chen Wushuang and Chen Xingyuan met up together." Use Chen Wushuang, Chen Xingyuan.

"General, the enemy abandoned their warhorses and fled into the mountains; they likely still have two or three thousand troops. What should we do?" Chen Xingyuan asked, casually wiping blood from his face, bracing his armor, then wiping his hands with his clothes.

"General, the enemy has abandoned their warhorses and fled into the mountains; they likely still have two or three thousand troops. What should we do?" Chen Xingyuan asked, casually wiping blood from his face, bracing his armor, then wiping his hands with his clothes.

The night is too dark, the torchlight limited, making it hard to strike; movements are clumsy, leaving dirt all over the body.

Translation: "The night was too dark, the torches' light limited, making it inconvenient to slash at people; awkward handling left him filthy all over." Use "him". The subject likely Chen Xingyuan? Actually line 46 had Chen Xingyuan speaking, line 47 describes the situation. We'll keep as is.

Chen Wushuang wore a stern face, gazing ahead at the pitch-black mountains and wilderness, silent.

Translation: "Chen Wushuang stared ahead with a grim face, gazing at the pitch-black wilderness, saying nothing." Use Chen Wushuang.

"General!"

Translation: ""General!"" Keep quotes.

Chen Xingyuan called out again.

Translation: "Chen Xingyuan called out again." Use Chen Xingyuan.

Chen Wushuang then uncertainly asked, "Should we also abandon our warhorses and search the mountains?"

Note: there is a typo; it should be translated as "Chen Wushuang then uncertainly asked, 'Should we also abandon our warhorses and search the mountains?'" using Chen Wushuang.

「……」

Actually line 52 is "……". So translation: "……"

Chen Xingyuan stared at Chen Wushuang's face, flickering uncertainly in the firelight, "General, if we're just looking for someone, this approach would work, but we're fighting to kill them; doing this… probably won't do."

Translation: "Chen Xingyuan stared at Chen Wushuang's face flickering in the firelight, "General, if we're looking for a person, this method would work, but we're fighting to kill them—doing this…… probably won't do."" Use Chen Xingyuan, Chen Wushuang, General.

"Then… surround the mountain and trap them inside to die?"

Translation: ""Then…… surround the mountain and trap them inside to die?"" Keep quotes.

"This mountain seems quite large; we don't have enough manpower, General, you should reconsider."

Translation: ""This mountain seems quite large; we lack sufficient manpower, General—you'd better reconsider."" Use General.

Chen Wushuang turned his head, "What do you have?"

Translation: "Chen Wushuang turned his head, "What do you have in mind?"" Use Chen Wushuang.

"Me?" Chen Xingyuan fell silent for a moment, "I need to think it over; this idea isn't something to just randomly think up, and I dare not speak recklessly."

Translation: ""Me?" Chen Xingyuan fell silent for a moment, "I need to weigh this—this idea isn't something to casually conjure, nor dare I speak recklessly."" Use Chen Xingyuan.

"Come on, hurry up a bit; we both lost face before our lord, this time leading troops alone, we should at least regain some dignity."

Translation: ""Hurry up a bit—we both lost face before our lord; this time, commanding troops alone, we ought at least to regain some dignity."" Use "our lord". Keep quotes.

Chen Xingyuan's eyes turned fierce, "Burn the mountain! Burn it now!"

Translation: "Chen Xingyuan's eyes suddenly turned fierce, "Burn the mountain! Burn it now!"" Use Chen Xingyuan.

"Is burning the mountain feasible?"

Absolutely feasible—we set fire on all sides and roast them to death inside.

"Then burn the mountain!" Chen Wushuang nodded, "You've had this planned all along, haven't you?"

I had somewhat considered it before, but this tactic is a bit underhanded; I also worry the fire might get out of control, and it's a pity to burn all that timber. If the general has another way, we wouldn't need to resort to such extreme measures." Chen Xingyuan said.

Chen Wushuang gave a wry smile, "Too bad I really couldn't think of anything..."

"The lord has always wanted me to command troops alone, but I... even if I memorize those military texts by rote, when I actually lead the big guys onto the battlefield, I don't know how to apply them flexibly. Cousin, am I really that stupid?"

"Everyone has their strengths; it's not about being stupid, just that you learn a bit slower." Chen Xingyuan soothed.

"First set the fire; once the blaze is going, I'll slowly tell you about this. As for this matter, I actually have something I want to say to you—it might not be useful, but hearing it might give you some inspiration."

"...... Okay!"